Articles Archive
Environment & Women
By Deepshikha Sharma
Women for centuries have shared an innate connection with the environment. Nature is embedded in the work women engage with and thus, for generations, they have worked hard to conserve it for themselves and the future generations. Forests and rivers preserved for thousands of years are now threatened across the planet.
The Predicament of a Herder
By Tanzin Thinley
The next day when he went back and opened the door of the corral, the animals rushed out in panic. Usually, he would have had to take a lot of effort into getting the animals out of the corral. He knew something was wrong. It was strange behavior. Standing by the door he carefully scanned the inside of the corral and to his surprise, he saw a set of shining eyes staring back at him in the dark.
Trekking The Forests of Himachal
By Tinkle Bhatt
A few months back while I was patrolling the forest near Yangla village alone, as I mostly do, I came to learn that a black bear was also roaming the same areas that I had covered. The thought of encountering a bear is a scary one, and I was glad that I didn't cross paths with the animal
Art From Our Valleys
By Sherab Lobzang
Ulley Tokpo is a village in the western part of Ladakh. Walking along the banks of the Indus River, I stumbled upon this curious rock art. The image shows a hunter pointing a bow at an animal with long curved horns, while a guard dog watches on. Did our forefathers hunt for food? Maybe they did not rear animals like sheep and goat then.
Traversing Climate Change
By Virendra Mathur
In the mystical lands of Bharmour and Lahaul, located in the north-western part of Himachal Pradesh, India, a seasonal event takes place every year that is an elegant harmony between local culture and nature. Here in the traditional seat of Gaddi shepherds, the community is described variably as semi-nomadic, transhumant pastoralists, or agro-pastoralists.
Lingering Memories of My Grandmother
By Chemi Lhamo
When I was young, I remember my Evi (grandmother) used to take me to yul-sa (Buddhist shrine for village deity) every day in the morning to offer prayers. She would ask me to light butter lamps while she circumambulates around the altar before joining me in prayers.
The Water Managers in Kibber
By Ranjini Murali
In the distance, the early morning sunlight chased the shadows on the mountain peaks. I gazed longingly at the golden patches, wondering how long before I could feel the warmth of the rays. Lobzang saw me and laughed, “Are you cold? Come help, it will warm you up!”
Ecological Importance of Dry Toilets
By Sonam Yangzom
In Spiti, there is no concept of ‘waste.’ The symbiotic relationship between the toilet design systems in Spiti and the fragile ecosystem facilitates growth of healthy crops and reduces the brunt of water crisis in the region. The use of dry toilets is therefore an eco-sensitive wisdom born out of the geographical realities of this cold desert and is especially useful in the winters when water freezes.
Changes in Agriculture: A story from Himachal’s Lahaul Valley
By Chhering Gaaji
I remember, when I was young, we used Yak and bulls to plough our fields. Traditional methods of ploughing like this required at-least two men and yaks to complete the task but we have gradually shifted to machinery to get the work done single handedly.
Himalayan Agriculture
By Amshu CR
At 14,200 ft above sea-level, surrounded by the trans Himalayan range, I was looking forward to seeing the yak, for which I had travelled from Mysore to Kibber village in Spiti during the summer of 2016. The walkfrom the village to the pasture was an arduous one, but I had two girls from the village Lobzang & Tenzin who were accompanying me on my quest.
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Agricultural Practices in Spiti Valley
By Lobzang Tandup
The relationship between people, wildlife and nature go beyond utilitarian aspects. It is heavily influenced by cultural values and local practices around it. For instance, many Spitian households have unique names for their agricultural land which is a helpful marker of identification of one’s land and also carries meaningful symbolism.
Traditional Farming in Spiti -
A Photo story
By Himanshu Khagta
The concept of organic farming, which has become well known in the last decade, is not new to Spiti. Crops like black pea and barley still remain free from any chemicals. So the next time you have Sampa (local Spitian barley flour), you can be certain of its purity!
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My farming memories
By Vikram Katoch
In Lahaul, the sowing season starts from mid-March. Villagers would first clear the snow from the fields and then start sowing various seeds. Farming is the sole livelihood of many villagers and before ploughing, people pray to their fields, the tools and the baang (oxen) in hope of a good harvest.
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A day in the life of a young farmer
By Vicky
There’s an air of celebration when the agricultural season begins in my village. It is time to end the dormancy of long winter days and come out and start preparing the fields .My family would then begin the hard work in the fields which would last a few days. The fields which were harder to plough, were then ploughed with the help of Shaalu - my favourite mare.
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Mushroom Cultivation in Spiti
By Kalzang Ladey
Given Spiti’s mono cultural practices, I realised that mushroom cultivation in Spiti will provide a viable option for the locals. Growing mushrooms is fairly easy and anyone can replicate the process once they are a bit familiar with it. Mushrooms are one the cheapest crops to cultivate if done with proper care -thus, with limited space and time, one can obtain a good yield.
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Reflections on farming life
Prithvi Singh in conversation with Panma Gyatso
I was born in Hango which is a remote village in the Hangrang valley of Kinnaur. I am 72 years old and have spent my life in this village as an agro-pastoral farmer. When I look back, I now realise that some of my most treasured memories of my village are related to agriculture and food. One of my favourite and most vivid childhood memories is from the time chulli (apricot) season arrived.
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Reviving Organic Apple cultivation in Shalkar (Kinnaur)
Story narrated by apple cultivators of Shalkar, Kinnaur
Kinnaur valley in Himachal Pradesh is well known for their apple cultivation. These high hills provide ideal climatic conditions for apple crops with the requisite chilling season in the winter. Apples grown in organic farms in Shalkar have a distinctive sweet, crunchy taste with a natural waxy exterior
Beyond Agriculture- insights into farm based entrepreneurship in Lahaul (H.P)
Tashi Angroop in conversation with Chemi Lhamo
One of the major changes in the mountain farming system is from subsistence to commercial farming practice. There’s a curious move towards high-value cash crops and diversification of cropping patterns. With connectivity and better exposure, farmers in these landscapes are increasingly becoming more innovative.
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Who owns the water?
By Chhering Angchuk
In Spiti we define wealth and prosperity in terms of water -“Chu Sang-na, Yul Sang” the expression aptly translates as “abundant water results in prosperous villages”. Being a cold desert in high Himalaya, It is difficult to think of a resource more essential to the well being of people and their economies than water, yet managing water resources is a complex and challenging task...
Women and Water: A Photo Story
By Multiple Contributors
Last year, we did a photography workshop with women’s group in Shushuna village, Spiti Valley, who are primary caretakers and farmers in their households. After the session, we left them a camera and asked them to document their village life in addition to nurturing their photography skills. We returned a year later and they enthralled us with amazing pictures and great stories!
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The Many Tales Around Water
By Kalzang Dolma
Spiti’s oral literature has extensive reference to water. Many ancient verses, odes, hymns, folk songs, old lore allude to water with sheer reverence, refer it as a treasure and embody ancestral affiliation within physical, ecological, social-cultural and spiritual contexts. Each narrative is deeply embedded in local space – intimately bound up with natal soil, water bodies and their complex manifestation...
Unpredictable Lifelines
By Sunder Negi
Verses of prayers reverberate throughout the valley as men sing and climb mountains to ensure their village has water in the summer. People from Khadra, Akpa and Rarang village trek for 27 km to reach Pangi top and clear the path of the artificial stream - Kashang nahar to let the water flow freely towards their villages.
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The Art of Weaving in Lahaul’s
Upper Valleys
By Rinchen Angmo & Chhering Gajji
In the higher Himalayan region, weaving is an ancient craft and forms an integral part of people’s lives. In Lahaul, weaving signifies a retreat into slower, simpler times amid icy cold weather when the farming works are at its lowest. There’s a saying in local folklore attributing weaving as visual art that reflects stories about people, their communities, and their place in the universe.
The Sheep of Himalaya -
a Homegrown Woolen Enterprise
By Anuradha Miyan
Handloom and handicraft are an age-old tradition in Kinnaur (H.P) and have their roots in the ancient trade routes. The intricate designs and colorful patterns differentiate Kinnauri handcrafted shawls- making them a much-coveted textile product in India. However, the bulk of its history, symbolism, and contemporary relevance remains obscure.
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Changthang -
An Oasis of Himalayan Fiber
By Padma Dolker
Nestled amid the lofty Trans-himalayan mountains, Changthang is a unique terrain where climate and topography play a crucial role in the sustenance of local communities. The region consists of wide wetlands and giant mountains which offer indispensable ecosystem services and safeguard our water and food security.
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Spiti’s Handwoven Traditional Clothes
By Dolma Zangmo, Cheering Zangmo & Tanzin Ankit
Clothes and identity are closely related: traditional clothes of a region reveal a lot about its geography, physical environment, climatic conditions, and cultural practices. The high altitude and cold weather conditions in Spiti have led to distinct clothing attributes of its people. Since most of the families are agro-pastoralists, the livestock people breed gives different kinds of wool like yak wool, sheep wool, and goat and that forms the natural source for most of the attire worn by the people.
Tepang - the Pride of Kinnaur
By Tanzin Palkit Negi
One of the defining features of people living in Kinnaur is their vibrant traditional dress and the unmistakable headwear Kinnauri Topi which forms an integral part of the whole attire. The headwear is colloquially called “Tepang” or “Khunnu Tiwi” and is different from the Himachali Topis of Shimla, Kangra, Kullu, and Chamba. The design variations and the aesthetics of this headwear represent different parts of Himachal where it is worn.
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The Art of Weaving in Lahaul’s
Upper Valleys
By Rinchen Angmo & Chhering Gajji
In the higher Himalayan region, weaving is an ancient craft and forms an integral part of people’s lives. In Lahaul, weaving signifies a retreat into slower, simpler times amid icy cold weather when the farming works are at its lowest. There’s a saying in local folklore attributing weaving as visual art that reflects stories about people, their communities, and their place in the universe.
The Sheep of Himalaya -
a Homegrown Woolen Enterprise
By Anuradha Miyan
Handloom and handicraft are an age-old tradition in Kinnaur (H.P) and have their roots in the ancient trade routes. The intricate designs and colorful patterns differentiate Kinnauri handcrafted shawls- making them a much-coveted textile product in India. However, the bulk of its history, symbolism, and contemporary relevance remains obscure.
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Changthang -
An Oasis of Himalayan Fiber
By Padma Dolker
Nestled amid the lofty Trans-himalayan mountains, Changthang is a unique terrain where climate and topography play a crucial role in the sustenance of local communities. The region consists of wide wetlands and giant mountains which offer indispensable ecosystem services and safeguard our water and food security.
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Spiti’s Handwoven Traditional Clothes
By Dolma Zangmo, Cheering Zangmo & Tanzin Ankit
Clothes and identity are closely related: traditional clothes of a region reveal a lot about its geography, physical environment, climatic conditions, and cultural practices. The high altitude and cold weather conditions in Spiti have led to distinct clothing attributes of its people. Since most of the families are agro-pastoralists, the livestock people breed gives different kinds of wool like yak wool, sheep wool, and goat and that forms the natural source for most of the attire worn by the people.
Tepang - the Pride of Kinnaur
By Tanzin Palkit Negi
One of the defining features of people living in Kinnaur is their vibrant traditional dress and the unmistakable headwear Kinnauri Topi which forms an integral part of the whole attire. The headwear is colloquially called “Tepang” or “Khunnu Tiwi” and is different from the Himachali Topis of Shimla, Kangra, Kullu, and Chamba. The design variations and the aesthetics of this headwear represent different parts of Himachal where it is worn.
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An Insight into Traditional
Spitian Architecture
Chemi Lhamo in conversation with Namgial Lhundup
Upon entering any Spitian village, the most striking aspect is the cluster of white mud houses dotted beautifully against the blue sky and gigantic barren mountains. The design, aesthetics, and material composition of the houses are uniquely Spitian – evolved and adapted to suit the cold mountain desert.
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Conversation with a Gyangon-da: a mud house builder & stone mason
An interview with Chhuldim Pempa
Demul is a remote high-altitude village in Spiti known for its beautiful meadows and pastures. The villagers are agro-pastoralists and still actively practice their traditional ways of agriculture, livestock rearing, and herding. This village is also home to many Spitian artisans skilled in building traditional mud houses, Dor-si (stone mason), Shingso-wa (carpenter), and Gyanghon-da (earthen wall builder).
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Blending Traditional Architecture with Contemporary Design
Swaroopa Damle in conversation with Gopal Negi
Many changes are taking place in Kinnaur and growing access to the market, connectivity is certainly impacting how we build houses these days and RCC-based buildings are becoming more popular. When I decided to build my house in Hango a few years back, I was very conscious of building it in a way that amalgamates traditional wisdom, and vernacular designing techniques with a modern sensibility.
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Pearls of wisdom from a master artisan
In conversation with Lobzang Choephel & Chhering Phuntsok
Building with an earthen material is a craft, a philosophy where nature is at the center of the entire life cycle of a building. From its conception, sourcing, material usage, and construction till the inevitable end when the material returns to earth as compost, there’s a balanced, harmonious unison with nature. The renewable nature of the natural material renders it environmentally more sensitive and less disruptive to the land and ecosystems around it.
Conversation with a Shing-zowa: a master wood craftsman
Rinchen Tobge in conversation with Angdui Phuntsok
There is a deep connection between people’s livelihood, their way of life, development changes that happen in the region, and how it shapes the local architecture. Spiti’s architectural changes have certainly undertaken an interesting trajectory and as a local artisan, I am still grappling to find balance and navigate the changes
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Memories, Nostalgia, and a Forgotten Practice
By Nonie Rawat
The unregulated flow of heavy tourists can have many adverse effects on the local ecology and architecture. It will influence changes in the land use, will cause urbanization, large-scale construction of tourist facilities, illegal constructions, changes in the vernacular design orientation, increased waste pollution, and degradation of local aesthetics which are attuned to its natural surroundings.
Spiti Valley Architecture – a Lesson in Sustainable Design
By Kimberly Moyle
The need to survive the harsh winters in this remote location has seen the evolution of a highly intelligent system of bio-climatic design. Traditional homes have been constructed with a deep understanding of the regional climate as well as the specific site conditions.
The Sowa-Rigpa Medical Tradition
Dr Mayank Kohli in conversation with Amchi Chhering Tashi
Sowa-Rigpa, also known as the Amchi system of medicine, is practiced in the high Himalayan region. It is also referred to as the Tibetan medicine system and is among the oldest existing knowledge systems in the world that relies on knowledge of ecology, especially plants.
Living at the Edge: Plants of High Himalayas
By Thinles Chondol
Whenever we say Himalayas, we instantly picture majestic snow-covered peaks, rugged slopes, extreme weather conditions which are characterised by strong winds and a dry landscape. An old proverb says, ‘The land is so barren and passes so high that only the best of friends and fiercest of enemies would want to visit us.’ It is hard to imagine how such an environment can harbour any plant life.
Juniper – The Sacred Conifer
By Dr Konchok Dorjey
Ecologically, juniper is an important species in the fragile cold desert ecosystem. It survives freezing temperatures and grows luxuriantly in the cold arid climate, on rugged high-altitude slopes of Ladakh. Juniper plays a significant role in supporting different life-forms of the cold desert ecosystem including crawling insects, chirping birds and busy rodents.
The Beautiful Siyah Mentok
By Chemi Lhamo
What is home, what is belongingness? For me, it is the uninhibiting mountains, the barren landscape, the deep gorges, and the high peaks of my homeland Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Also, it is the vast grazing ground, the piercing cold thin air, the green summer meadows, the ripe barley field, the meandering water canal and the delicate pink bloom of Siyah mentok.
Narkasang: Kinnaur’s sacred blooms
By Mahesh Negi
Narkasang (Narcissus tazetta or daffodils), a sacred flower, holds a special place in my heart. During my early years, I vividly remember the first time I saw the Narkasang flower in our Chokesten, our place of worship. I found it to be very beautiful and I asked my grandmother from where she got them. She showed me the wild flowers growing on our farm, saying that they grew on their own.
Unveiling an Enigmatic Jewel: Sea Buckthorn – A Tale of Wellness and Wonder
By Sheetansh Sayal
Nestled high amidst the majestic peaks of the Himalayas lies a hidden treasure, a rare and mystical berry known as sea buckthorn. Revered for its extraordinary nutritional profile and therapeutic properties, this vibrant orange jewel has captivated the hearts and taste buds of travellers and locals alike.
Wild edible plants of Ladakh
By Phuntsog Dolma
It is not surprising then that Ladakh is home to various traditional made using wild plants. In the past, communities prepared dishes on auspicious occasions. Various different wild plants are used in these traditional preparations.
Agri-Culture and Agriculture – The Root Change
By Biju Negi
Agriculture and livestock rearing are a way of life for people in the Himalaya, or at least so we are given to believe. Is it still relevant, or have people moved on to newer vocations? Our feature article brings to light some of the fundamental shifts in agriculture - the way it was, and is now.
People and their land – agriculture in the high mountains of Himachal Pradesh
By Farmers from Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur
Unlike several parts of the Himalaya, agriculture and horticulture paint a very different picture in the lives of the people here. How has it remains one of the most attractive vocations, and how long can it sustain?
We find out what the farmers of the region have to say.
Navigating the challenges of climate change in the Himalaya
By Akshata Anand
Climate change and unpredictable weather events are disruptors , especially in the Himalaya where life depends heavily on access to natural resources. We delve into what long-term weather data from the Himalaya points to and what this could means for farmers.
